Tips for Handing Life's Unknowns

Tips for Handing Life's Unknowns Written by Joshua Fowler When I was twelve years old, I was in a car accident. It was June 1st, 2015, and my family and I were on our way to my grandparents’ house. The nine-hour trip wasn’t one we made regularly, but we made it often enough to feel confident in the journey. We were about one hour from our destination when it started to rain, just enough to get the highway slick. As the truck in front of us slammed to a stop, we safely braked, having left enough space between vehicles. But a bigger truck behind us was holding too much cargo and didn’t stop in time. It crashed into us, totaling our 2004 Honda Odyssey. I remember many things from this experience. I remember no one had died from the crash. I remember my little sister charming the EMTs and ER nurses with her sweet smile and innocent questions. I remember neck braces and x-rays, both of my parents crying, and having to be transported to a children’s hospital. But of all the things I remember, this sticks out the most: It was the first time I experienced what I now call “The Unknown.” “The Unknown” is an umbrella term I use to describe any major change in my life—changes that come with a sense of displacement and uncertainty. The loss of a loved one. The transition of people in leadership. A new house in a new place. A traumatic experience. I’ve experienced many Unknowns in my life, and I’m bound to experience more as time goes on. But that first time was striking to me. Before the crash, my life wasn’t filled with too many Unknowns, and I wasn’t sure how to respond in that moment. Here’s what I’ve learned about Unknowns in the years since: